Vick Confirms His Family Now Has a Dog

Michael Vick‘s past with dog fighting still comes up every so often, but the news now of him having a dog for a pet is sure to draw emotion from a lot of people across the board.

Vick released a statement Thursday confirming that his family had recently obtained a dog.

“I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet,” Vick said in a statement released by his publicist. “As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals.

“I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”